Financial Literacy

The concept of credit may seem intimidating or even not worth the trouble at first glance. The risk of acquiring too much debt or the responsibility of having to make monthly payments or face severe consequences can make it seem like it's a better idea to just stick to cash and maybe a checking account. But the truth is that credit is an important part of giving yourself a firm foundation for financial success. In this course, you'll discover why you need credit, as well as some of the reasons why you might want credit. We'll discuss what lenders look at, including your credit history and credit scores. We'll also go over common loan types.

When you open your first line of credit, you immediately start building your credit history. But what exactly does that mean? What goes into your credit history, and how do you make sure you're building it the right way? That's what this course is all about. We'll discuss everything that gets included in your credit history, both good and bad, and who collects that data. We'll go over three different strategies for building your credit history and ensuring that it remains positive.

Learning how to read a credit report is a vital part of understanding the health of your credit and checking its accuracy. In this program, you'll learn about the six sections of your credit report:

• Personal information
• Employer history
• Consumer statements
• Account information
• Public records
• Inquiries

Your credit score also appears on the report, so we discuss the full credit score range and what your number means. Finally, we talk about what to do if you find inaccurate information on your credit report.

Any time you start looking into improving your financial standing, you probably hear a lot about your credit score. Is it good, bad, or somewhere in between, and what does that even mean?

In this program, we discuss how credit scores are calculated, the factors that go into those calculations, and how your financial activity impacts them. We also talk about the financial behaviours that help ensure a good credit score.

One of the real threats of living in a society that does much of its business without the use of physical cash is identity theft.

In this course, you will learn what identity theft is, how it is carried out, some strategies you can use to avoid it, and what to do if you think it has happened to you.

Over the course of your adult life, you'll likely take on multiple forms of debt. Starting with credit cards and student loans and graduating to auto loans and home mortgages, managing debt will likely become a big part of your life. In this course, we'll go over strategies for how to best manage debt, and we'll discuss what to do if you get in over your head.

Figuring out how to use and manage credit to your advantage can be a learning process. Doing your research and setting some rules for yourself as you begin using credit will help you avoid problems. In this program, we explore common credit pitfalls, including lacking credit history, forgetting to make payments, and spending too much, too fast. We also go over how to avoid these mistakes so your credit can continue to grow and improve.

Opening a checking account is a major financial milestone. It provides a secure way to store your money and allows for easy, efficient access to and transfer of your hard-earned dollars. In this program, we talk about the basics of checking accounts. You'll learn why checking accounts are important, how they're helpful, and some of the benefits they provide. We also discuss how to choose the right account for you, how to access your account, and how to understand the fees associated with it.

Don't you just love reading the fine print, all of the minute legal details of terms and conditions? Nope. Nobody reads the fine print. Seemingly everything has fine print and none of it seems to make sense. But there are some important facts in there, particularly when it comes to a checking account agreement, that you want to pay attention to. Those are the things we'll cover in this course. We'll discuss minimum balance requirements, overdraft conditions, and other stipulations to be aware of.

This is a how-to course on using your checking account. We'll go over making deposits and withdrawals, either in a bank or using an automatic teller machine, or ATM. We'll discuss ATM safety and what you need to be aware of when using an ATM. We'll go over making purchases and how to use your debit card. We'll also cover the components of a check and how to properly fill one out. Lastly, we'll touch on keeping a check register and managing your accounts electronically to monitor your budget.

Online and mobile banking tools offer customers convenience and flexibility in common, day-to-day transactions. In this program, we'll talk through the different tools offered and how you can use them to your advantage. These include alert services, electronic statements, and budgeting software. We'll also discuss the associated risks with these tools and how you can keep your information secure.

In this course, we go over different types of checking accounts so you can decide which type is most appropriate for your life. These include basic and joint accounts, commercial and business accounts, and online versus brick-and-mortar bank accounts. The key to finding the right checking account is to do your research and shop around. This video, along with reading the fine print and talking to customer service associates, will help you make an informed decision about where to put your money.

It may seem like a relatively modern concept, but humans have operated on credit, borrowing from one another and paying back debts, for millennia. Still, credit is not necessarily a simple concept.

In this course, we go over the basic principles of credit, including what it is, some of the different types of credit available today, and why it is important to have credit.

You know you need to build your credit, but as a young adult, is having a credit card really a good idea?

In this course, we look at both the benefits and risks of having a credit card as a young adult, as well as some strategies for staying responsible if you do choose to open one. We also discuss credit limits, making payments and avoiding late fees.

Understanding exactly how a credit card works is the first step to using it wisely. That's what we'll cover in this course. We'll talk about the use of chips, magnetic stripes, and mobile apps. We'll discuss various fees associated with credit cards, including processing, interest, cardholder fees, and balance transfer fees. We'll also go over how cash advances work and the differences between secured and unsecured cards.

Understanding the terms and conditions of your credit card is vital for using your card responsibly and to your advantage. In this course, we'll go over the common terms in your credit card's fine print so you can understand exactly what you're signing up for. We'll discuss variable and fixed interest rates as well as annual percentage rates, or APR. We'll also talk about grace periods and annual and credit insurance fees.

There are many different credit cards out there, so in this program we look at the criteria you can use to choose one that works for you and your financial goals. We discuss secured versus unsecured cards, credit cards versus charge cards, fine print items, and rewards programs. We also talk about having multiple credit cards and how that impacts your credit score.

Why put your money into a savings account when you already have a checking account, and what is the point of having more than one bank account?

For starters, most savings accounts earn interest, often much higher than a standard checking account, which means your money is making money while it just sits there. In this course, we cover the basics of savings accounts, the various types of savings accounts to consider, and the benefits of opening an account.

We know that when you deposit money into a savings account, it earns interest, giving you extra money. But how much does it really give you? Enough to matter? That's what we'll look at in this course. We'll also discuss various reasons for saving your money and go over some good ways to do that.

Now that you know why saving is important and some of the basics for how savings accounts work, let's talk strategies for actually saving your money! In this course, we'll talk about various ways to add to your savings, as well as discuss spending diets and budgeting. We'll cover determining essential, could-be-improved, and unnecessary expenses. And lastly, we'll talk about strategies for analyzing your expenses.

You've opened a savings account, adjusted your budget, and been saving diligently toward your goals. What's the next step in your savings strategy? Getting the biggest bang for your buck. In this course, we talk about various ways to maximize your savings through investments. We cover retirement accounts like 401(k)s and Roth and traditional IRAs, saving for educational expenses with a 529 plan, and other investment account options.

If you are considering a student loan to help manage the financial costs of your education, you are certainly not alone. In 2019, almost 45 million student loan borrowers collectively owed more than $1.5 trillion in the United States.

In this course, we discuss how scholarships and grants work and how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We go over the four federal loan types, who qualifies, how they are paid, and what to do if you do not qualify for federal loans. Lastly, we cover paying back your student loans.

Unless you're lucky enough to work in a city with great public transportation, you're probably going to need a car at some point in your life. Whether you're going to work or just running out to get groceries, most of us use cars on a daily basis. In this course, we'll talk about how many people pay for these cars: taking out an auto loan. We'll discuss how car loans work and go over the different types of lenders available. We'll talk about down payments, loan terms, and making payments. And finally, we'll cover what happens if you're unable to make a payment and what you should do if you're facing that situation.

Purchasing your first home is a major milestone, but it's also a complicated process. In this course, we break home loans into simple, easy-to-understand steps. We define common home loan terms and go over the various types of loans available and their requirements. We also talk about interest rates, escrow payments, and what happens if you're unable to make a mortgage payment.